The world is dangerous for many anime characters, surrounded by killers, monsters, evil armies, demons, and creatures stranger still. One of the most persistent threats these characters face no longer has a mortal form: ghosts.
Whether they died by violence, illness, accident, or some other tragedy, the spirits of the departed remain to haunt the living. Some of these retain much of what made them human, while others are reduced to twisted curses, existing only to torment the living. With so many ghosts around to cause trouble, it's no surprise that anime is full of ghost hunters doing their best to track down and combat these elusive threats. Here are some of anime's most iconic.
Updated on August 25, 2023, by Via Erhard: If anime fans want some paranormal action, they can hop onto the ghost-hunting bandwagon and meet all kinds of fascinating characters, ranging from the brave to the hilariously terrified. Many of these shows are set in fantasy realms, but viewers can also navigate through eerie hallways, haunted houses, and all types of mystical realms while getting to know fascinating stories and uncovering secrets. However, these series aren't just about ghosts but about unexpected friendships and even wild gadgetry. The anime ghost-hunting genre has something for each fan, no matter if they like terrifying horror shows, comedies, or feel-good slice-of-life stories with supernatural elements.
16 Yoshimori Sumimura - Kekkaishi
Kekkaishi is an underrated anime that needs a reboot since most anime fans are still waiting to meet Yoshimori Sumimura once again. Yoshimori isn't a regular high schooler because, by night, he transforms into a Kekkaishi, a barrier master, who is tasked with sealing away menacing spirits and Ayakashi.
This ghost anime show has a vibrant, detailed art style that captures the mystical ambiance of Karasumori Academy, the ground zero for these supernatural encounters. Even though Yoshimori is a dedicated ghost hunter he's also just an awkward teenager which makes the show much more entertaining. Kekkaishi also has a compelling narrative and beautifully choreographed battles, as well as powerful ghost hunters who despite their young age aren't afraid of anything.
15 Kitaro - GeGeGe no Kitaro
Kitaro is one of the most legendary anime ghost hunters who have been taking fans on hilarious and spooky adventures for years. GeGeGe no Kitaro's ghost hunter is capable of navigating the world of humans and supernatural beings and tries to make sure that the two worlds can coexist and will not collide in catastrophe.
Thanks to this iconic show, anime fans have been able to go on many fun and spooky adventures while enjoying whimsical art and endearing stories with unique ghosts. Many of GeGeGe no Kitaro's stories were also inspired by Japanese folklore, and urban legends, so fans can even learn a bit about Japanese culture while embarking on these supernatural adventures.
14 Natsume Takashi - Natsume's Book of Friends
Natsume's Book of Friends is one of the most feel-good slice-of-life anime shows with a friendly ghost hunter, Natsume Takashi. While he might not be a typical anime ghost hunter fighting with weapons and using sealing techniques to vanquish ghosts, he still helps them move on and finally leave the human realm.
Thanks to his grandmother's Book of Friends, which contains the names of spirits bound by contract, he embarks on heartfelt journeys to return these names and help spirits find peace. The show has a gentle and charming art style that immerses viewers even further into the world of this unique anime ghost story.
13 Yayoi Hozuki - Dark Gathering
Yayoi Hozuki is one of the cutest and newest anime ghost hunters who already become many fans' favorite. Dark Gathering's tiny ghost hunter is a genius strategist who is also highly intelligent with an IQ of over 160. Yayoi is obsessed with ghosts since she wants to save her mother's spirit from the wicked ghost, Kuubo.
While she's driven by vendetta, she still has a strong moral compass, and she's not punishing all ghosts only the truly evil ones who killed and tortured people. The story follows her and Keitaro's adventures as they meet all kinds of ghosts and try to capture Japan's most terrifying ghosts and ghouls.
12 Ginko - Mushishi
Mushishi is often praised as one of the greatest seinen anime shows of all time and its lead Ginko is a friendly and wise ghost hunter. Ginko is a Mushishi who travels around Japan while trying to help people with their Mushi-related problems.
Mushi are a kind of spirit that can cause serious problems and come in many different shapes. While Ginko doesn't stay for long in the same place he still cares about people and does everything in his power to help them with their supernatural issues. Ginko also loves his job and is always excited to find new Mushi species he hasn't seen before.
11 Hamaji - Fuse: Memoirs Of A Huntress
Fuse: Memoirs of a Huntress' beautiful story was inspired by Kyokutei Bakin's 19th-century epic novel the Nanso Satomi Hakkenden. Its most powerful ghost hunter is Hamaji who is also the anime's lead. Even though she spent most of her life in the mountains she eventually moved to the city of Edo to help her brother hunt for creatures.
These creatures are called fuse and their mother was from the spirit realm, and they were known to eat people's essence. Since the government was hunting for them and offered a nice reward there were only a few of them left alive. So, Hamaji and her brother set out to hunt them down and collect the reward.
10 Rin - Blue Exorcist
Rin is one of the most iconic anime exorcists who didn't only hunt and fought against evil spirits but terrifying demons too. Blue Exorcist's most powerful exorcist was only a teenage boy who had special supernatural abilities thanks to his dead, Satan.
Even though Rin inherited Satan's powers he decided that he doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps and instead becomes an honorable exorcist along with his twin brother Yukio and uses his powers to fight evil. Rin is one of the strongest anime ghost hunters with many superhuman abilities including superhuman strength, and regenerative abilities, and he even has a partial demon form.
9 Mikami - Ghost Sweeper Mikami
Mikami is one of the most stylish anime ghost hunters of all time who was the owner of a private exorcist company. She and her assistants helped people with their ghost and spirit-related problems. This fun classic ghost anime series is set in a fictional version of Japan where ghosts have lost their homes due to overdevelopment.
Mikami and other Ghost Sweepers work hard to help people with their ghost issues who hire them for good money. Ghost Sweeper Mikami has great characters as well as fun adventures and is filled with all kinds of unique ghosts.
8 Mai Taniyama – Ghost Hunt
An anime with the name Ghost Hunt had better have a good ghost hunter or two, and thankfully it does. Mai Taniyama gets drawn into her fellow student's mission to investigate a supposedly haunted building at their school, which turns out to be only the first step in her ghost-hunting career.
With the help of other exorcists, mediums, and other talented ghost hunters, Mai does her best to combat the supernatural wherever she can as a member of Shibuya Psychic Research. In time, she grows more confident and also more powerful, discovering she may have a unique ability or two of her own. The spirits she confronts may not be as powerful as the devils in Chainsaw Man, but that doesn't mean Mai has an easy time.
7 Nobara Kugisaki – Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen became a smash hit that for many fans raised the bar for characters, action, and thrilling plot development in anime. Its cast of talented and deadly characters is a huge part of the series's success, including stand-outs like Nobara Kugisaki.
Wielding a hammer, nails, and a curse doll, Nobara is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to taking down Curses, a race of creatures formed from negative psychic energy. From her confidence to her unforgettable look to her incredible abilities, Nobara is without a doubt one of the best, and most interesting, ghost hunters around. There might be a handful of even more iconic characters, but there are few if any that would be a better ally in a fight.
6 Kouichi Sakakibara – Another
Being an ethereal spirit is already pretty interesting, but putting an eye patch on it makes a ghost that much more intriguing. Maybe that's part of the reason that Kouichi Sakakibara is so obsessed with Yomiyama North Middle School's resident ghost Mei Misaki.
Another stands out as one of the darkest, yes, most haunting ghost-hunting anime around, so it's no surprise that some viewers have just as much trouble getting through it as Kouichi seems to. His stubborn perseverance, even when he should obviously quit, helps set him apart from a legion of other hunters, even if he is a questionable protagonist at times.
5 Mob – Mob Psycho 100
Mob Psycho 100 is one of the most visually distinct anime around, with characters, special abilities, and even settings that can't help but capture the eye. Mob himself is a dead-eyed little boy with a bowl-cut and overwhelming supernatural powers, which is just part of what makes him so memorable.
Mob isn't just a fantastic ghost hunter: he's a gullible one. Watching his supposed mentor mislead, manipulate, and exploit him--all to cover up his own lack of psychic ability--is one of the show's highlights. Mob is fantastic on his own, but watching him be led astray again and again, failing to pick up on the less-than-subtle clues, is even better. For high-caliber ghost-hunting action and stunning visuals, Mob is hard to beat.
4 Korra – The Legend Of Korra
The Legend of Korra isn't a ghost-hunting anime, and Avatar Korra isn't a traditional ghost-hunter, but as the bridge between the human and spirit realm, she faces spirits of all varieties. Though she isn't wandering around with holy water or an EMF detector, Korra is more than equipped to deal with the strange creatures that she faces.
She may have a hard time confronting some of her own demons, but when her world and those she cares about are threatened, Korra has no problem charging into battle against the ghosts that threaten to destroy everything she loves. There's a reason Korra is at the heart of the best episodes in this kid-friendly franchise.
3 Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen
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Arguably the strongest jujutsu sorcerer in Jujutsu Kaisen, Satoru Gojo isn't just one of the strongest characters in his own anime, he's one of the strongest ghost-hunters in any anime. Gojo devotes himself to more than just the exorcism of Curses, however.
Gojo is responsible for training the next generation of sorcerers. Without him, characters like Nobara Kugisaki, Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Fushiguro may never have developed their skills in the way that they did. While Nobara's look is arguably more iconic than Gojo's, Gojo is a fantastic character and ghost-hunter in his own right. His power is just the tip of that iceberg.
2 Yusuke Urameshi – Yu Yu Hakusho
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Yu Yu Hakusho is a classic shonen anime with fans all over the world, and its protagonist Yusuke Urameshi is why. After sacrificing himself to save the life of a young boy, teenage punk Yusuke is resurrected as a Spirit Detective and tasked with solving crimes in the Human World involving the supernatural.
His Spirit Gun is an anime weapon almost as iconic as Goku's kamehameha, and between his slicked-back hair and bad attitude, Yusuke has a way of sticking in fans' minds. While he starts the series with a nasty demeanor, he sees a lot of growth, making him one of the rounder characters in the ghost-hunter lineup as he fights his way through the Dark Tournament.
1 The Medicine Seller – Mononoke
The protagonist of Toei Animation's avant-garde anime Mononoke is the Medicine Seller, an enigmatic merchant who uses his expertise in the supernatural to find, identify, and destroy spirits. Everything about the Medicine Seller, from his look to his mannerisms to his mysterious title, attracts the viewer's attention.
Mononoke is an extraordinary achievement in anime, but even if he had appeared in a mediocre anime the Medicine Seller likely would have been one of the most engaging ghost-hunters of all time. For style as much as effectiveness, the Medicine Seller must be counted among the very best.